The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla County Department of Community Health (DCH) is reporting 187 new COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks (10/13/2020 to 10/26/20). This has put the county at the highest number of active cases since the onset of the pandemic with 175 active cases.

“We are seeing an uptick of cases in Walla Walla County. Gaining control of this increase will depend on the actions of our community. We need everyone’s diligence in supporting social distancing and wearing of masks. Also, cooperation in contact tracing, isolation and quarantine is essential,” said Public Health Officer for Walla Walla County, Dr. Larry Jecha.

Contact tracing is a primary strategy recommended by the CDC to contain the spread of COVID-19. DCH is asking our community to cooperate with local contact tracing teams when they call individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or close contacts of known cases of COVID-19. For more information about contact tracing please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website or the Washington Department of Health website.

DCH reports transmission in Walla Walla County related to household and social exposures, travel (both residents traveling out-of-county and non-residents traveling into the county), and small gatherings. For guidance related to gatherings please visit the Washington State Coronavirus Response website.

Individual actions make a difference in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our community. If you are not feeling well, please stay home from work, school, social gatherings, and going out into the community. If your symptoms persist, contact your health care provider to ask about getting tested for COVID-19.

Walla Walla County is currently in Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s ‘Safe Start’ plan. Additional information regarding the ‘Safe Start’ plan can be found on the Governor’s website.